Corona Devo 493

Never underestimate the influence that we have on others, just by living our lives.

My husband loves gardening. Even though it is tedious and requires daily attention and the results take a long time...he has a passion for plants because he had a beautiful relationship and loved another who did also.

Where does one get a green thumb? My husband's came from his grampa. Also an avid gardener and fruit-tree man, when you grow up seeing someone you love have an interest in something, it is natural for you to also gravitate towards it.

And so, we just picked 80 peaches from a peach tree my husband planted in the front yard and I made pie fillings, we can tomatoes for sauce, cut basil for pesto and make pickles from cucumbers. He likes to garden and I like to cook-it's funny how God works things out if we let Him.

We also have a fig tree. We've had it many years, and my husband and mother-in-law "knew" from the sproutling that "it would take at least three years" to bring fruit. That's what they always said.

My husband nurtured it and waited. I had wondered if the "three-year-plus" fig wisdom was handed down from grampa or online research, because that was what they always said.

Today I realized it was what Jesus said, and that it also applies beyond fruit-trees.

Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. (7) Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’

(8) “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. (9) If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’” ~Luke 13:6-9

Are you waiting on something that is taking time? What is the fig tree in your garden that you come again and again to see if there is any fruit on it, but are always disappointed?

Kids to absorb God's word or responsibility, or you?

A job that seems pointless and unfulfilling? Or one that has purpose but is bleeding you dry?

A marriage that is more work than blessing?

Finding a church?

For that person who is special to you to come back/forgive/forget/accept/own up?

Is it ourselves? Our temper, our lust, our pride? Our will that keeps presiding over God's will and perpetuates self-disgust and a lack-of-fruit on our lives?

Never underestimate the influence that Jesus can have on us if we will tend to His Word and nurture our hearts with it. His word comforts us in the disappointment of waiting-for-results, and He encourages and calls-us-to-Him during the "in-between" phase of today: "Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer." (Luke 13:8).

Don't get hung up in the timing (Leave it another year), because only God knows where we are in His process, but be boosted by the hope and reality that even now and today He is feeding, watering, and cultivating our faith and the "fig tree" that we are waiting on to produce.

Seeking God's ways and will takes time, but we can grow to love it. Even though it is tedious and requires daily attention and the results take a long time...God has a passion for us and He seeks a beautiful relationship with us that will result in fruit down the line.

"Fruit" in us personally (patience for the process and faith in the outcome) but also "fruit" that others can see, and then possibly seek for themselves.

Gardening is not the only thing that can be mimicked from one generation to the next. Our faith in God (and patience through His growth-processes) can be passed down too. When you grow up seeing someone you love have an interest in something, it is natural for you to also gravitate towards it.

What if our "fig tree" situations and people of today became fruit for Christ tomorrow? It's funny how God works things out if we let Him.

Just as my husband has a passion for plants, God has a passion for us. He desires a beautiful relationship with us and God loved another who did also--His Son.

Jesus nurtured the world and its people for three years in ministry and then He was "cut down" (Luke 13:9) for us. But through His resurrection and sacrifice, the fruit of His labors hangs ripe and ready for us to grasp today.

We will have to nurture our daily faith-walk and wait. But Jesus' "three-year-plus" fig wisdom applies beyond fruit-trees. Give Him time.

Blessings,

sarah

https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com